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In: Coaching and Cueing, Mental Training, Mind-Body
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One of our more popular series on ICA is a set of articles with various strategies for inspiring your students up long climbs. The series was called Strategy for Strength, and is one of the favorites we’ve done on ICA. One of the strategies was to inspire students to come up with a mantra that they repeat over and over to themselves as they climb. Of course, mantras aren’t just for climbing. I was inspired recently to come up with some for sustained tempo pace.Read more…

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In: Class Profiles
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I put together this ride for instructors to use as a first class after studios and clubs open back up following the coronavirus lockdown. All of the songs are chosen to make you smile and to reflect; some are there to inspire you to push harder; some may even bring a tear to the eye. You are going to have a wide range of fitness levels when you first come back after many months off, so this profile provides ample modifications for the varying fitness levels in your class.Read more…

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In: General Advice, Medical & Health
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Meet Jennifer Kaplan, owner of the PeloDog Indoor Cycling studio in Avon, Colorado. Like most studios around the world, she had to shut down in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. I interviewed Jen about the meticulous steps she has taken to reopen the studio to ensure the health and safety of her riders, her instructors, as well as herself and her family. Read more…

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In: Class Profiles, Tour de France
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The team time trial is one of the more exciting stages of a bike race you can simulate in your classes. It’s a very challenging effort, and the extended warm-up plus the near constant rotations adds constant variety and keeps the class focused and committed. We provide you step-by-step coaching for this riveting race as well as a virtual ride so you can see how to manage your riders while teaching. Read more…

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In: Class Profiles, Teaching with Power
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Here is everything you need to perform two FTP tests with confidence: the ramp (MAP) test and the 20-minute test, including how to coach and motivate your riders to stay committed and how to add the most motivating and energetic music possible. You’ll learn not just the theory but also the practical skills to leading these two important functional assessments. If you have a bike, you can ride along with the two videos and test your own FTP. If you don’t have a bike, that’s OK; just imagine yourself at a conference session and view them with pen and paper in hand.Read more…

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In: Class Profiles
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This profile uses the concept of negative-split training to assist riders in developing aerobic and muscular endurance while targeting threshold training. The structure of this ride also gives fitness enthusiasts an opportunity to master body awareness skills and practice managing their efforts. It is an excellent way to teach new riders and those used to short intervals the concept of pacing. It also prepares riders for FTP testing in the future. Read more…